The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has secured a $40 million grant from the World Bank to promote and develop Ghana's tourism and creative arts.

Once the grant is ratified by Parliament, part of it will be used to support festivals and to also market artefacts produced by local artisans.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Adanwomase in the Kwabre Municipal of the Ashanti Region at its maiden Annwineɛ festival over the weekend, deputy sector minister, Dr Ziblim Barri Iddi announced that the Ministry and its implementing agencies are working hard to support artisans and small enterprises dealing in local artefacts.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Gushegu said festivals have become the main driving force of development in Ghana and pledged government’s support to revamp tourism, arts, culture and creativity.

For her part, the MP for Kwabre East, Francisca Oteng Mensa underscored the need for artisans to use social media to promote their handiwork.

She called on stakeholders to institute a National Crafts Day to showcase the handiwork of artisans as well as recognise their efforts towards the development of tourism and arts.

She also entreated the tourism ministry to tighten laws on copyright to protect the intellectual properties of artisans. Source: myjoyonline.com